Comforting Thoughts About Death That Have Nothing to Do with God

"In this book Greta Christina tackles the subject of death with the insight of a philosopher and the relaxed candor of a friend — that really cool, intelligent friend who understands and cares."
-David Niose, author of Fighting Back the Right: Reclaiming America from the Attack on Reason

Comforting Thoughts About Death That Have Nothing to Do with God by Greta Christina -- available now!

Coming Out Atheist

“"Witty, wise, helpful, and humane, this clear and engaging book is most timely.”
-Phil Zuckerman, Ph.D., author of Faith No More: Why People Reject Religion

Coming Out Atheist: How to Do It, How to Help Each Other, and Why by Greta Christina -- available now in ebook, print, and audiobook!

I Support Atheism Plus!

Atheists plus we care about social justice.
Atheists plus we support women’s rights.
Atheists plus we protest racism.
Atheists plus we fight homophobia and transphobia.
Atheists plus we use critical thinking and skepticism.

EVENTS

Yes, believe it or not, I have one more post up on the Blowfish blog about cheating in sexless relationships. Part 1 and Part 2 of the “Is Cheating Ever Okay?” series have sparked the most lively conversation to date on the Blowfish Blog, and it’s way too interesting for to drop at this point.

I’m not saying that all anti-cheating advocates are trivializing sex. But I am saying that, in the debates about cheating in sexless relationships, I’m seeing what I consider to be a disproportionate emphasis on the cheating… and a similarly disproportionate lack of attention to the sexlessness, and the harm that it can do, and the difficult moral bind that it puts people in.

To find out more about how I think placing a high priority on sex affects the ethical question of cheating, read the rest of the piece. Enjoy!

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Comments

So, I just finished watching Casablanca again.
I find it striking that even though it was made in 1949, the three characters in a love triangle fully understand that monogamous marriage is non-binding in the case of one of the partners going missing.

(I hope that the parallel discussion we’re having about prostitution won’t affect our attitudes here.)
I’ve said before I don’t think it’s right to view such relationships as contracts. A contract is something cold and unfeeling, while a romantic relationship is based on love. That means that *sometimes* you will have to accept being treated unfairly for the sake of the emotional connection you share with your partner.
That said, the person who stops having sex could be doing this for one of three possible reasons.
1) He/She hates you. If so, break up.
2) He/She is having psychological problems. If so, he/she needs your help; you HAVE to stick with them and help them get through it. It may last for a long time, but with your support and the help of a professional it will eventually go away.
3) It’s biological (no sex drive). I think this may be the situation you are referring to. Here, there are two options:
a) The person with the low libido can take medication to increase it (Wellbutrin springs to mind). This is the best solution, since it results in more enjoyment for both parties involved.
b) The person with the high libido can take medication to decrease it (this one may require more careful research). If you lose your sex drive, you won’t miss sex any more so you’ll be happy with celibacy.
Both are perfectly feasible, and equally fair in my book.
Maybe I’m oversimplifying things here… but the way I see it, there’s always a solution if you just sit down and talk about the problem.